Means for connecting sectional furniture.



A. VANDERVEL D.

MEANS FOR CONNECTING SECTIONAL FURNITURE.

I APPLICATIVON FILED JAN. 8. 1915.

Patented Dec. 11,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A. VANDERVELD.

MEANS FOR CONNECTING SECTIONAL FURNITURE.

HEET 2.

APPLICATION H LED JAN- 8| l l5- 1,250,1 1Q, PabenteN Dec.

w i Q7 2 SHEETSS ANTHONY VANIDERVELD, or eaannimrms, MICHIGAN.

MEANS FOR CONNECTING SECTIONAL FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 11, 1917,

Application filed January 8, 1915. Serial No. 1,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY.VANDER VELD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing 'atGrand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Connecting Sectional Furniture; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a means for connecting sectional furniture with the Vertical sectional units disposed in spaced apart relationand for covering the space between the various sectional units in such manner that there will be produced the appearance and the structural eifect of asolid built construction. The invention has for its object. and purpose the provision of a new and improved means for detachably yet securely fastening the sectional'units together and for detachably connecting, at the front and between the spaced apart ends of the sections, a finishing post or pilaster which is normally held tightly in engagement with the sectional units but which mav be readily removed upon application of sufficient force. To these and other ends not specifically enumerated I have devised the constructions disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 shows in perspective a plurality of sections connected together and, presenting the appearance of a solid construction.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the construction illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged'sectional. view of a fragment of the construction taken'atthe forward ends of spaced apart adjacent sections. I

Fig. 4 is a view similarto Fig. 3 but illustrating a slight modification in structure; and v r Fig. 5 is afragmentary side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. r

In the construction of the sectional furniture as shown a plurality of sections 1 are positioned one above the other to any detional units are placed in horizontal relation end to end with adjacent ends spaced a distance apartso that each "sectional unit is practically independent of the others and may be taken apart, built up, rearranged and interchanged as desired Without disturbing any of the other sectional units'of the series. Each section at each 'end thereof may have connected thereto, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a strip & located a short distance back of the front edges of the ends of the section, which'when' the sections are placed end to end, are adapted to contact with each" other receiving therethrough a screw 5 which is also inserted through one section end 6 then through the strips 4 and into the adjacent end 6 of the adjacent section, :firmly tying the I sections together against longitudinal displacement. It-however, is apparent that the screw '5'may be removed at will. and the sections readily detached. 1 Y

As thus constructed there will remain a space-in" front of the straps 4 which I have covered with the facing post 7 of a width such that its edges will extend over and bear against the front edges-0f the ends 6 of the section. A plurality of spring mem bers 8 are secured to the post 7 on'its'rear' side having spaced apart spring arms terminating in the curved ends 9 which are 1 adapted to seat in grooves 10 formed vertically in the ends 6 ofthe sections: Said arms have theanormal'tendency to spring away from each other and bear with a con- :the sections and normally serving to draw the finishing post 7'in tight engagement with the front edgesofthe ends of theisece tions. It will be apparent, however, that siderable degree of force against the ends of =x by the'application of sufficient force this i post 7 may-he readily removed'and that it can be as readily replaced when. desired.

- The strips l which, as it has been stated,

are secured at each end-of the section 6. may,

if desired, be formed as indicated. in Fig. 2,

that is the strips may be formed as an integral member and not attached to the ends of the sections serving merely as a spacing bar between the ends of the sectional units at a short distance back of the forward edges thereof, in which case bar 4: may reach from the bottom to the top of the sectional units, the same as the finishing post 7.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification in structural detail is shown, spring members 11 of the formation shown best in Fig. 5 being secured to the back of the post 7 and having their lower ends adapted tobe received back of similar spring members 12' secured to one of the strips 4, the post 7 being applied by placing it against the sections a distance above this normal position and then forcing it downwardly, the springs 11 thereupon passing back of the springs 12 as will be readily understood.-

With this construction sectional furniture is provided which may be readily taken apart at any time, each vertical multiple sectional unit being rendered independent of the others upon removal of the finishing post 7 and of the connecting screws 5. Various slight modifications other than those described may be resorted to without departing from the invention which includes all modifications falling properly within the scope of the appended claims.

1. In combination, a series of sections placed in superposed relation to form a multiple vertical sectional unit, a plurality of said sectional units positioned in horizontal relation with adjacent ends spaced apart, vertical spacing strips located between the said units a distance back of the fronts thereof, means for detachably connecting the adjacent ends of the sections of the sectional units together, and a covering post positioned at the front of and between the spaced apart ends of the sections and detachably connected therewith.

Z. In combination, a plurality of multiple vertical sectional units located in horizontal alinement with adjacent ends spaced a short distance apart, vertical strips con nected to the ends of the sections of each sectional unit, said strips on the adjacent ends of the sections lying against each other, detachable means inserted through said strips and into the section ends for detacha'bly connecting the sections together, and a covering post positioned at the front of and between the spaced apart ends of the sectional units and detachably connected therewith. j 3. In combination, a plurality of mul tiple vertical sectional unit-s located in horizontal alinement'with adjacent ends spaced short distance apart, vertical strips connected to the ends of the sections of each sectional unit, said-strips on the adjacent ends of the sections lying against each other, means passing through the strips detachably connecting the sections together against horizontal displacement, a post positioned at the front of and between the spaced apart ends of the sections,said post having connected therewith a plurality of spring elements, and means engaging said spring elements to yieldingly hold the post in position and draw it tightly against the section, substantially as described.

4'.- In combination, a plurality of mul tiple vertical sectional units located in horizontal alinement, means spacing the ends of the units a short distance apart, means detachably connecting the sections of the units and'the spacing means together, a post, 1

a plurality of spring elements connected sectional unit a short distance back of the front of each section, the strips on the adjacent ends of the sections contacting with each other, screws inserted through an end of one section and the strips and into the adjacent end of the adjacent section, a part positioned at the front of and between the spaced apart ends of the sections, said part having connected therewitha plurality of spring elements and means detachablv engagedby said spring elements to yieldingly hold the part in position and draw it tightly against the front edges of the sections. V

6. In combination, a series of sections placed in superposed relation to form a multiple vertical sectional unit, a plurality of said sectional units positioned in hori- 'zontal relation with adjacent ends spaced apart, superposed sectional spacing members interposed between the adjacent ends of sections of said units and disposed vertically along the ends of the respective superposed sections thereof. means connecting said members and adjacent sections together, and a pilaster having a'length equal to the height of said sectional units posi tioned in front of said spacing members and removablv' connected thereto, substan tially as described.

7. In combination, a series of sections placed in superposed relation to form a mul tiple vertical sectional unit, a plurality of said sectional units positioned in horizontal relation with adjacent ends spaced apart,

spacing members interposed between the ad- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature jacent emils of sfictions of said units, a pilasin presence of two witnesses.

ter locate at t e front of and between adjacent ends of sections, and detachable in- ANTHONY VANDERVELD 5 terengaging spring members on both the Witnesses:

spacing members and pilaster for detacha- E. J. BILLo,

bly securing the pilaster in place. FRANK E. LIVERANCE, Jr.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by adressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

